Pictures of a White Disc-less Xbox Series X Console Leak

Microsoft is reportedly planning to release a white disc-less version of its flagship Xbox Series X console later this year. eXputer published yesterday the first leaked pictures of the new console, which looks identical to the current Series X, except for the new white color and the absence of a disc drive on the front.

According to the publication, this new disc-less Xbox Series X could start shipping this summer, and it will have “a few of its components upgraded” including an improved heatsink. In a separate report, Tom Warren from The Verge, who also confirmed on X that the leaked pictures were legitimate, said that he has seen “additional documents detailing changes to this white Xbox Series X” without providing more details.

Microsoft already has a disc-less Xbox console with the Series S, but there’s a significant power gap with the Series X, which is designed for 4K gaming. Sony, however, chose to offer the same PlayStation 5 console with or without a disc drive, and the new PS5 Slim model simplified the lineup by introducing a detachable disc drive. As of today, there’s a $50 price difference between the new PS5 Slim and the disc-less Digital Edition.

Overall, the appeal of a cheaper Xbox Series X without a disc drive is not clear. The disc-less console apparently isn’t slimmer than the regular Xbox Series X, and again, Microsoft already has a slimmer, cheaper, and disc-less console with the Series S. Last month, eXputer reported that this disc-less Xbox Series X could be between $50 and $100 cheaper than the regular model with a disc drive.

During the FTC v. Microsoft trial last fall, Microsoft’s Xbox product roadmap was published by mistake, and the documents revealed an Xbox Series X refresh codenamed “Brooklin.” One of the slides showed a disc-less console with a cylindrical design and a USB-C port on the front.

Under the hood, the refreshed console was supposed to offer 2TB of storage, Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.2 support, and a more power-efficient 6nm chip. The leaked presentation also mentioned a redesigned Xbox controller codenamed “Sebile” featuring an accelerometer and cloud connectivity.

Following the leak, Phil Spencer, CEO of Microsoft said that Microsoft’s plans may have changed, adding that “We will share the real plans when we are ready.” If Xbox President Sarah Bond recently confirmed that Microsoft will release new Xbox hardware during the holiday season, this white disc-less Xbox Series X appears less ambitious than the leaked “Brooklin” refresh we saw last fall.